Uber suspends 'abusive' Nairobi taxi driver

Monday March 14 2016

In Summary

Uber rider Catherine Njeri recalled what she termed a harrowing experience with the driver in an online post she made on her Facebook account on Saturday.

It is at that point that Ms Njeri alleged she was hit on the arm by the driver. She would however according to her online account eventually alight from the taxi and safely get to her home.

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Online taxi service firm Uber has suspended a Nairobi Uber driver who allegedly became rude and abusive to a passenger during an altercation over the route he had taken last Saturday.

Uber Africa spokesperson Samantha Allenberg told Daily Nation that the driver who was also involved in assault allegations with the lady passenger had been barred from using the Uber platform.

“Anytime safety is compromised we take it very seriously. As soon as we were notified of this incident we immediately reached out to the rider to offer our support and suspended the driver-partners access to the platform,” Ms Allenberg said.

Uber rider Catherine Njeri recalled what she termed a harrowing experience with the driver in an online post she made on her Facebook account on Saturday.

“Be weary of an Uber driver named Stephen drives a Nissan Tiida registration number KCE. Today at 7:30 p.m. he picked me up from town. Didn’t take too kindly to perhaps a woman giving him directions.When I saw our conversation was degenerating, I told him just stop talking to me and take me to my location,” Ms Njeri said.

HIJACKING

She explained: “He’s pissed off at this point and wants to drop me off at a place known as “Makaburi” which is prone to incidents of hijacking and rape. This is when I told him I won’t pay him if he doesn’t drop me home.”

After verbal the exchange, She said the driver insisted on taking her back to town but she asked him to drive her to Parklands Police Station.

It is at that point that Ms Njeri alleged she was hit on the arm by the driver. She would however according to her online account eventually alight from the taxi and safely get to her home.

Ms Njeri later filed an assault claim by the said driver with Police at Parklands Police Station.

Ms Allenberg however in her statement sought to reassure Kenyans on the safety of the taxi hailing platform after incident went viral on facebook.